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Parents have a duty to protect and provide for their children and the law says all parents are free to raise their children as they wish, according to their own beliefs and religion.

The Hull Daily Mailhas created this guide to what the law says parents simply cannot do...

1) Keep them from school or let them skip school

Children in a school classroom (Image: Mark Lee)

Parents have a duty to provide an education for their children.

By law, the parent is responsible for making sure their children (aged from reception class up to the age of 16) get a full-time education. If your child does not attend school regularly, the local children’s services could take legal action against you.

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As a driver, if you are convicted of failing to ensure that a child passenger is using an appropriate child car seat or wearing a seat belt according to the legal requirements, the fixed penalty is a £100 fine. If the case is taken to court, you could face a fine of up to £500.

3) Hit them

Wales takes steps towards banning the smacking of children

Currently it is not illegal for a parent to smack a child, but if the smacking goes beyond the line of “reasonable punishment”, a parent could be charged.

If hitting a child leaves a mark, such as visible bruising, minor swelling or it causes mental harm, or if the child is hit with a cane, stick, belt or other implement, it would be seen as “unreasonable” and therefore illegal.

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It is illegal for teachers, nursery workers and childcare workers to smack another person’s child.

4) Leave them alone

A sad child (Image: Pixabay)

The law does not have a set age at which you can leave a child on their own, but it is an offence to leave a child alone if it puts them at risk.

Parents can be prosecuted if they leave a child unsupervised “in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health”.

5) Let them cycle on paths

It's illegal to let your child cycle on the pavement (Image: Pixabay)

It is illegal for anyone, including children, to cycle on a pavement alongside a road, unless it has been marked as a cycle track. Therefore, as their parent you should not let your child cycle on a path.

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However, children under the age of ten are below the age of criminal responsibility. Therefore if you let your five- year-old cycle on the path, they are breaking the law , but while police officers can theoretically stop young children who are cycling on pavements, they have no powers to arrest, fine or even caution them.

6) Give young children alcohol

It's illegal to give your child alcohol

It is illegal to give any child aged five and under alcohol. However you may be surprised to learn it is not illegal for a parent to give a child aged five and above alcohol on private premises or in licensed premises.

7) Let their child leave home too soon

Parents of under 16-year-olds are legally responsible for making sure their child has somewhere safe to stay.